Boy Was My Face Red: Thinking About the Blush
Dr. Mary Ann O’Farrell will explore non-verbal communication, specifically relating to the cultural meanings of blushing, thinking about why and when we sometimes feel blushes are to be expected and why it is we sometimes like to announce that we’re undergoing them. Dr. O’Farrell is an Associate Professor and Associate Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of English at Texas A&M University. She is the author of “Telling Complexions: The Nineteenth-century English Novel and the Blush” and co-editor of “Virtual Gender: Fantasies of Subjectivity and Embodiment.” Her current book project, “A Rhetoric of Jane Austens,” examines the uses of Jane Austen in contemporary culture.

Why Should We Hire YOU?
Selling Yourself and Communicating Your Strengths
Leigh Weisshaupt, Campus Recruiting Manager for Intel Corporation, will discuss the importance of presenting yourself well when looking for a job. She will provide tips on 1) communication for career fairs, info sessions, interviewing, 2) the best way to learn more about a company and the importance of networking, even when you are not yet employed by that company, 3) how recruiting and the “system” works at Intel (and probably a lot of other big companies). Ms. Weisshaupt has an MBA from Arizona State University and has been working at Intel for 7 years. She currently is the Campus Recruiting Manager, and as such serves as the recruiting representative for Intel to 6 universities across the US, one of which is Texas A&M. 

Standing Out at Conferences: The Impressive Poster
Have you ever presented a poster at a conference attended by thousands of people? Have you experienced the overwhelming feeling of being “one more” of many and having people just passing your poster by? Though the topic and content are critical for a good poster, its delivery is essential! Drs. Rosana Moreira and Elena Castell-Perez have prepared posters for presentation of their research innumerable times and will give you some tips on how to make yours the one that people remember! Both Drs. Moreira and Castell are full professors in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University and both have spoken extensively at national and international events.

Lessons Learned
Dr. Carolyn Sumners is Vice President of Astronomy and the Physical Sciences at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Adjunct Professor in Physics and Astronomy at Rice University. She has written trade books, a textbook series, and over 50 planetarium shows. Her inventions include the Challenger Learning Center, which has been replicated over 50 times, and the portable digital theater. She has also conducted research in archaeoastronomy using the planetarium to replicate the night sky at critical moments in history. Dr. Sumners just completed a research program on the effectiveness of informal science experiences on science knowledge and attitudes for inner city students. Dr. Sumners will speak on the challenges and positive aspects of informal science in a Museum setting and communication with an audience that is not an expert in your field. She will draw upon her 37 years experience with the Museum where she has taught over a million students directly, ranging from pre-schoolers to astronauts and has produced programs that have reached millions more. This she considers her most meaningful achievement.

Effective Networking Communications – Tips and Caveats
Networking is a fundamental process in professional development and human relations. Networking is also a term that provokes many misconceptions about effective communication and relationship building. Dr. Bonnie Charpentier, Vice President of Regulatory and Quality at Metabolex, Inc., will discuss what works and what doesn’t in effective networking, the role of networking at different career stages, the importance of professional societies in networking, and tools for effective communication and networking. Dr. Charpentier, with degrees in Anthropology and Biology, worked for a decade as an analytical chemist at the Procter and Gamble Co. in Cincinnati before moving to a career in Regulatory Affairs at Syntex in Palo Alto, California. At Metabolex, she is working in the area of treatment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Dr. Charpentier has been very active in the American Chemical Society at local and national levels and currently serves on the ACS Board of Directors.

Tailoring Your Presentation to Your Audience:
The Art of the Talk
During the course of our careers, we all need to present our work to a (hopefully admiring and appreciative) audience.  But how do we sell our ideas and thus ourselves to disparate groups of administrators, students, and colleagues of different stripes?  Suma Datta, Ph.D., will convince us that the key is knowing the technical background of your audience and how to connect your work to their interests. Dr. Datta holds appointments in the Departments of Biology and of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&M.  Suma has spoken on her research, including human prostate cancer progression and developing model systems for aging and cancer studies, at numerous International meetings, University seminar series and Student Organization workshops and meetings.

Teaching a Tough Audience:
Using Effective Communications to Facilitate Learning
Whether or not you pursue a career directly related to education, chances are good you will undertake teaching during your professional career. Outside the traditional classroom, teaching may be required as you explain project solutions to clients, conduct public hearings, or mentor new employees. In some cases, your audience will eagerly want your information. Sometimes, though, as with a required course, your audience may not be interested in the content you need to provide. Dr. Ann Kenimer will discuss how effective teaching communications can be used to help you involve and motivate even the toughest audience. Dr. Kenimer is Associate Dean of Academic Operations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. She received much recognition for teaching including the Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence and the Association of Former Students Distinguished Service from Texas A&M University and the A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award from the Association of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.